Summary of Revelation 17:3-6
John next sees a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that is covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. The name written on her forehead was: Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes, and the abominations of the earth. The woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.
BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 3: Revelation 17:3-6
6) John next sees a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that is covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. The name written on her forehead was: Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes, and the abominations of the earth. The woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.
7a) She’s a prostitute whose mission is to destroy God’s people. She does this by luring them into sin and getting them to turn from God.
b) 2 Chronicles 36:15-21 tells us about the Fall of Jerusalem and how God’s people were exiled to Babylon. Jeremiah 39:1-10 tells of how Nebuchadnezzar marched against Jerusalem and laid siege to it. Daniel 5 describes how Daniel interpreted the writing on the wall for King Belshazzar of Babylon. All of these tell of the evil of Babylon and how God used the country and kings as punishment for His disobedient people. The woman is the same.
8 ) The attractions of the world are simply shallow with no meaning and purpose behind them. They are fleeting and temporary; whereas, God and His glory are eternal. I’m attracted to God because you feel empty once you obtain the attractions of the world, but you always fill whole and satisfied with God.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 3: Revelation 17:3-6
Great lesson on not being deceived by looks, appearances, and the flashiness of this world but by holding fast to God.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 22, Day 3: Revelation 17:3-6
We saw this beast in Revelation 13:1.
She is blasphemous, but she fools the earth’s people into appearing religious.
Remember that purple was the color of royalty in ancient times and Rome. Scarlet was an expensive dye only used by the rich as well.
Notice she only has abominations and filth aka sin. Abominations can be anything that’s detestable. It can also be idolatrous beliefs.
Many Roman prostitutes wore headbands with their names on them.
The prostitute is drunk/revels in her persecution of God’s people.
Remember, Babylon represents sin and rebellion against God. They want to destroy God’s people.
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